The act of breathing is a natural phenomenon that we often overlook in our daily lives. Similarly, we tend to take the air we breathe for granted, as it is invisible to our naked eye. However, once we find ourselves in an environment with a musty odor or a thin atmosphere due to high altitude, or suffer from breathing difficulties due to illness, we realize the vital importance of clean air and proper respiration. What if we were to proactively safeguard ourselves and our loved ones by investing in an air purifier for our living and working spaces? By doing so, we would undoubtedly enhance our quality of life.
Why and who needs an air purifier?
It is apparent that everyone can benefit from an air purifier, wouldn’t you agree? Let’s delve deeper into the subject matter. An air purifier is capable of mitigating the adverse effects of accelerated production rates, rising urban populations, and escalating traffic density on our environment. The air we breathe is replete with hazardous pollutants and exhaust fumes that impair our respiratory function, whether we are aware of it or not. Therefore, procuring an air purifier for your abode or workplace is not a mere trend but a necessity, akin to investing in a washing machine.
The fundamental architecture of air purifiers comprises a case containing one or more fans, which facilitate the inflow and outflow of air. The device is supplemented by filters, electrostatic plates, and a series of other components, all of which serve as a medium for air passage. Some models may encompass additional features, including humidification, ozonation, ionization, and aromatization functionalities.
These appliances eliminate air pollutants such as dust, animal dander, plant pollen, and other invisible particles, many of which are allergens. Meanwhile, an air purifier functions to neutralize unpleasant odors, remove noxious fumes, smoke, and other aggravating impurities. The presence of such a household appliance not only renders the air fresher and cleaner, but also healthier by combating viruses and bacteria that may cause diseases.
Clean and healthy air that is free from extraneous odors and harmful impurities is something that everyone seems to require. However, if you have respiratory ailments, allergies, young children, elderly relatives, or immunocompromised family members, then an air purifier is indispensable in your apartment.
Nevertheless, having a purifier does not obviate the need for ventilation. If the condition of the atmosphere allows it, you should open a window at least once a day to let the air in. The household appliance, depending on its model, will clean and disinfect the air inside.
It is essential to monitor the state of the air in your residence or workplace, as well as how you feel. If objects in the room accumulate dust rapidly, the air is too humid or too dry, fungus has started to develop on the walls, or the atmosphere appears stale or musty, these are some of the reasons that indicate that an air freshener is required.
If you feel more fatigued than usual, have trouble sleeping, frequently contract colds, or suddenly develop allergies, then you should probably consider using an air purifier. Of course, you should seek the opinion of a specialist and undergo medical examinations. However, if no suspicious changes are confirmed by the doctor, then try to purify the air in your home or office.
By the way, if you are bothered by extraneous odors emanating from your neighbors, or if you want to eliminate contaminants from a newly built home or from the scents of previous occupants, an air purifier will certainly be helpful. Which filters should the device have?
You might be interested in reading this article about 1,000 square foot air purifiers – https://myintelligenthouse.com/best-air-purifier-for-1000-square-feetÂ
Types of air cleaner filters
Air purifiers employ a range of filters to achieve efficient air cleaning, which can vary in type and composition. Different materials and technologies are utilized to address diverse concerns, ranging from coarse to fine filters. Let us delve into the diverse options that manufacturers presently provide.
HEPA filters – what’s good and for whom they are suitable
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance, a term that may already be familiar to you due to its widespread use in household appliances such as hoods and vacuum cleaners. A HEPA filter is made of a dense, corrugated fiber that effectively captures almost all particulate matter larger than 0.3 microns that it encounters. This includes tiny particles such as mold spores, plant pollen, hair, skin fragments, and microscopic insects. However, these particles inevitably accumulate within the filter’s porous structure over time, causing it to become clogged and less effective at purifying the air. As such, regular replacement of HEPA filters is necessary to ensure optimal performance.
Electrostatic – what’s good and for whom it’s good
These filters work by ionizing foreign particles in the air, attaching ions to solid particles, and attracting them to the filter plates when air is drawn into the cleaner. Multiple filters are necessary for optimal effectiveness. To clean these filters, they must be cleaned by hand and rinsed with running water. These filters are particularly useful in removing dust, fine particles, various allergens, smoke and soot. However, it should be noted that odors, toxins and volatile substances cannot be eliminated by the electrostatic filter.
Photocatalytic – what’s good and for whom it’s suitable
Photocatalytic filters are an excellent solution for more challenging air purification tasks. It is the most advanced technology available today for cleaning the air. With this technology, foreign impurities are destroyed under the influence of ultraviolet light, making it highly effective at eliminating toxic substances, killing harmful bacteria and viruses, and eliminating unpleasant odors. Air purifiers equipped with these filters are available for home use and provide clean air while maintaining the beneficial components in the atmosphere, ensuring that it does not become overly sterile. While such devices are especially useful for preventing seasonal illnesses, their superior efficacy is coupled with remarkable durability. The filters themselves are long-lasting and do not wear out quickly, though it may be necessary to replace the UV lamp over time.
Charcoal filters – what’s good and for whom they’re good?
Activated carbon filters are capable of handling more intricate impurities than just coarse particles. You may have encountered such filters installed in kitchen hoods. They are particularly advantageous in their ability to combat malodors and remove certain gaseous substances. While not fully comprehensive in purifying the air from all chemical impurities, they are generally effective. However, it is important to replace the activated carbon filters in your air purifier at least twice a year. Otherwise, as the filters become increasingly congested with dirt, they may start emanating carbon particles into the atmosphere, hence becoming a source of contamination themselves.
Pre-filters – what’s good and for whom they’re good
Pre-filters are a ubiquitous feature on all air purifying devices, designed to effectively cleanse the air entering the unit prior to further, more intricate cleaning. Not only do pre-filters safeguard the inner workings of the air purifier from accelerated wear and tear and obstructions within its delicate filters, but they also set the stage for the device’s subsequent purification stages. The more such stages an air purifying device possesses, the purer and more pristine the air it expels back into its surroundings – albeit, at a higher cost. It should be noted, however, that the upkeep of these filters is equally important, as some require manual cleaning while others need outright replacement. Therefore, it stands to reason that with more filters, the cost of maintenance can also increase.
The main parameters for choosing a good air purifier
How does one select an air purifier for their apartment? The most crucial consideration is where it will be placed or hung. It is recommended to position air purifiers in rooms where one sleeps, such as bedrooms and children’s rooms. Furthermore, it is advisable not to put air purifiers directly on the floor, as they may become soiled quickly. Instead, place them on some sort of elevation, and some models can even be installed on the wall or ceiling.
Afterwards, one must select a purifier that is suitable for the room’s size, with a small margin. Let the device’s workspace be slightly less than the stated measurement in the instructions. Another factor to consider is air exchange, which indicates how much air the purifier can filter per hour. It is preferable for the entire room’s air volume to pass through the device at least thrice.
Deciding on the type of filter required in the future device is also important. To do so, consider the environmental situation in your region or city, observe how quickly dust accumulates on surfaces in the apartment, and take into account the presence of allergies or asthma among household members who frequently suffer from colds. If you require a comprehensive solution, then select a device with numerous filters and several purification stages. Alternatively, you may require a device with a filter tailored to specific tasks.
Bear in mind that the air purifier will most likely be placed in the bedroom. What about the noise level? Take note of this parameter primarily if the device operates with a fan. In other cases, the volume of its operation will not surpass 50 dB.
Consider whether you require additional features in an air purifier. Do you need humidification, ionization, disinfection, or fragrance, and are you willing to pay extra for these amenities? Perhaps you should be less discerning about them than, for instance, the display on the unit.
Filter contamination indicators would undoubtedly be useful. They will notify you when it is necessary to replace or clean the filter so that the unit can continue to function properly. The clean air indicator will inform you when it is time to turn on the purifier. Perhaps you prefer to operate it before bedtime or during the day to avoid being disturbed by the unit’s operation at night.
The timer feature can be useful for managing the usage of the air cleaner. This allows the unit to turn on and off according to the schedule you set. One of the more discretionary criteria for selecting a cleaner is the control options. Some have buttons while others have touch screens. Choose based on your preference.
We recommend reading about smoke purifiers –Â
https://verywellhome.com/best-air-purifier-for-smoke
What you can save money on, what you can’t
Once again, the cost of high-quality air purifiers is commensurate with that of other sophisticated equipment. The greater the number of features, the higher the degree of technological control and the more extensive the internal components, the higher the price tag.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that cutting corners on air purifiers can have adverse consequences on one’s health. Hence, selecting a device based on the “price-quality” principle necessitates a serious and comprehensive approach.
It is unwise to compromise on additional levels of filtration if one resides in an industrial area. At home, one can experience a significantly higher level of comfort when the air is purer than in other locations visited throughout the day.
It is essential not to skimp on replacing the filters in one’s unit. When the time comes to replace the components, it must be done promptly to ensure the device works efficiently and does not have any detrimental impact.
To achieve this, investing in an air purifier with an indicator of filter contamination is a wise decision, even if it incurs additional costs. This feature will remind users when it is time to service the device promptly.
Conversely, one can save money by opting for a device without any excessive control features, such as a timer or touchpad. Such devices can also be less expensive if one is willing to forego functions like air scenting.
If the noise level of the purifier is slightly higher than that of another similarly functional device, the price may be more reasonable. One can purchase such a device and turn it on while awake and off during sleep to maintain a quiet atmosphere.
